Quick-break miniature switch

ABSTRACT

Switch of the tilting blade type wherein the spring blade (35) provides for the tension of the moving blade (38) and the return of the pusher (39); under the action of the pusher(39) the spring blade (35) separates progressively from the inclined terminal (34); the inclination value is given for products in compliance with standard (DIN 41635, shape A); the closure system of the case comprises flanges which retain the cover; the shaft of the accessories is cast in a single operation.

BACKGRUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to miniature quick-break switches. Theycomprise, inside a moulded plastic material case, a rocking blademechanism actuated by an external push-button, this blade, pivoting on acommon terminal, ensures the electric continuity alternately between thecommon terminal and two separate terminals.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The operating principles of such apparatus are well known and describedin numerous patents. The following French patents may be cited by way ofexample: 1 182 508, 2 072 376, 2 472 827 and 2 531 262.

Their use as components of automatic devices must satisfy the approvalconditions of international standards, and in particular:interchangeability, electric insulation, reliability, absence of balancepoint, low operating force, high cut-off power.

Since the development of the market has led to fierce competition,manufactures have been led to design products at the lowest cost price.For that, these products must comprise a minimum number of parts whoseshapes must be compatible with automated manufacturing, assembly andcontrol equipment.

One of the mechanisms among the most simple is described in the Frenchpatent 1 182 508 applied for on Sept. 30, 1957. Its priciple, which hasserved as the basis for several types of product, manufactured at thepresent time in very large numbers, shown in FIGS. 1-4.

This prior art device comprises a resilient mobile blade 18, FIG. 3,hinged in notches 12, 13 formed on each side in the common terminal 14,FIG. 1. The position of these notches and the length of the arms 15 and16 of blade 18 define a resilient deformation of these arms, thuscreating reaction forces on terminal 10. A spring 19, placed under blade18, opposes the movement of the push-button 9; FIG. 2 shows thatmovement of the push-button downwards causes the mobile contact 8 topass quickly from terminal 10 to 11, when the arms 17 of blade 18 passbeyond notch 12. The electric continuity is then provided between thecommon terminal 14 and terminal 11. The contact force of contact 8 isthen a resultant of the tension of arms 15 and 16 of the mobile blade.

The action force F on the push-button as a function of its travel C isusually represented by a diagram. FIG. 4 shows the diagram correspondingto the type of switch shown in FIGS. 1-3. The action force on thepush-button increases from paint 20 to rocking point 21 of the mobileblade when arms 17 pass beyond notch 12, and the mobile contact 8 passessuddenly from terminal 10 to 11. The action force drops at point 22, forit is reduced by the force necessary for the tension of arm 16. Frompaint 22 to 23 the action force again increases smoothly, until spring19 is totally compressed as shown in FIG. 2. In the return movement, theprocedure is reversed, from paint 23 to 24 the action force decreases;when arms 17 pass beyond notch 12 the contact 8 passes quickly fromterminal 11 to 10. The action force is increased at paint 25 by thetension of arm 16 and then decreases again as far as paint 20. In thisgraphic representation, the movement from paint 20 to 27 is usuallycalled the approach stroke, from paint 27 to 26 the after stroke andfrom paint 27 to 28 the differential stroke. This diagram shows arelatively large increase in the action force, which is not favorablefor sensitive switches for which a low operating force is desirable. Inaddition, any appreciable variation of the control forces results in anincreased fatigue of the mechanical members, and so a reduction of thelifespan of the product.

The great variety of industrial applications of this type of productrequires a large flexibility of adaptation. Its characteristics willhave to be able to vary in large proportions.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a quick-break switch having alarge capacity of adaptation, a relatively constant operating force, alow manufacturing cost, a limited number of parts particularly adaptedto automated manufactured and assembly, and good electric, mechanicaland reliability performances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several embodiments of the present invention will be given hereafter byway of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 4 show the prior art switch while FIGS. 5 to 12 show theswitch of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a section of the prior art switch in the top contact position.

FIG. 2 is the section of the prior art switch in the bottom contactposition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the quick-break member of FIGS. 1 or 2.

FIG. 4 is the stroke-operating force diagram of the prior art switch ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a section of a switch of the invention in the top contactposition.

FIG. 6 is the section of the switch of the invention in the bottomcontact position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a quick-break member of FIGS. 5 or 6.

FIG. 8 is the stroke-operating force diagram of the switch of FIGS. 5and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, in positions comparable tothose of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is formed of a mobile blade 38, hinged in thenotch 32 of a common inclined terminal 34, by its pivoting portion 36.This blade is held under tension by a blade shaped spring 35, fixed bydifferent known means to the inclined terminal 34, and whose other freeshouldered end is engaged in an aperture 33 of the mobile blade 38. Thisconfiguration has the feature that the blade spring 35 separatesprogressively from the inclined terminal 34 as push-button 39 is pressedin. Contact between the blade spring 35 and the inclined terminal 34varies during rocking of contact 8 to contact 31.

The characteristic property of this blade spring is to provide arelatively constant tension force, for its active length increases atthe same time as its flexion. The result is that the operating force onthe push-button varies little. This capacity will be better understoodfrom examining the diagram of FIG. 8. The operation takes place in asmall force variation range. In fact, the variation of the action forcein its end values: minima 49 and 44, maxima 41 and 43, areproportionally lower than in the case shown in FIG. 4.

The shape and the dimensions of the blade spring and of the mobileblade, and their physical characteristics, determine the values of thereaction force on the push-button and of the tractive force on themobile blade, on which the bearing force on the contacts depends. Theslant of the common terminal determines the variation of the operatingforce. The choice of these characteristics will be made depending on theneeds.

The product shown by way of example complies with the InternationalStandard (DIN 41635, form A) and can be applied not only to high currentswitches with wide separation of the contacts but also to sensitiveswitches with a low operating force. In this case, the slant of theplane of the common terminal 34, on which the blade spring 35 unwinds,with respect to the mean position of the mobile blade 38 defined by ahorizontal of the case, is between 40° and 50°, angle a in FIG. 5. Thisvalue is optimum for the application considered. In the other cases, theslant may vary from 35° to 75°, the large angles promoting the constancyof the operating force and conversely.

By its construction, the invention makes possible the use of highintensity currents. The central portion 36 of the mobile blade 38 whichis the main current conductor, has no spring function. Consequently, theblade may have a sufficient section and be formed of a metal having goodelectric conductivity. On the other hand, the blade spring 35 will beforme of a metal having good mechanical characteristics and moreparticularly that of fatigue resistance, even to the detriment of itselectric conductivity, for it is not the main electric currentconductor.

The invention provides ease of assembly of the apparatus. The mobileblade 38, the common terminal 34 and the blade spring 35 which is fixedthereto, form an homogeneous one-piece sub-assembly. In fact, in FIG. 7it can be seen that the blade spring, because of its tension, pulls themobile blade into notch 32 and holds it in the position shown, againstthe edge 40 which serves as bearing point for it. The free end of theblade spring 35, engaged up to its shoulders in aperture 33 of themobile blade 38, forms therewith a flexible hinge. This sub-assembly maybe readily fitted into the case of the switch manually or usingautomatic means. Subsequent assembly of fixed contact 30 and push-button39 frees the mobile blade from its bearing point 40 and thus sets it, soas to provide the necessary contact force. This sub-assembly systemmakes possible self-centering of the mobile blade on the common terminalby the tension of the blade spring. Thus, the width of the mobile blademay be maximum, which is favorable for the mechanical and electricalcharacteristics of the product.

Construction of the invention raises no special problem for the industryspecialized in the manufacture of this type of product. The blade spring35 will have to be assembled on the common terminal 34 so that: the twoparts are well aligned, the blade spring may freely separate from thecommon terminal and the electric connection between the two parts mustbe perfect. It is recommended to bend the end of the blade spring atabout 45°, bend P in FIG. 7, so as to facilitate introduction of theblade spring into the aperture 33.

The invention, the drawings of which are appropriate to an industrialembodiment, is applied preferably to products conforming to theinternational standard (DIN 41635, form A) and equivalent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A snap-action electrical switch, comprising:a housing having an interior; a pair of fixed terminals, each having stationary electrical contacts mounted within the interior of the housing; a common terminal having an inner end mounted within the interior of the housing and having opposite, generally planar, terminal surfaces; a one-piece, movable switching element having a mobile electrical contact and mounted for movement between switching positions in each of which the mobile contact engages one of the stationary contacts, said switching element having an opening through which the inner end of the common terminal extends, a pivot portion pivotably engaged with one of the terminal surfaces of the inner end of the common terminal at one side of the opening, and a resilient blade portion located at the other side of the opening; an elongated leaf spring having one end fixed to the inner end of the common terminal an opposite end fixed to the blade portion, and a generally planar, spring portion intemediate the ends of the spring and extending through the op ening of the switching element into surface engagement with the other of the terminal surfaces of the inner end of the common terminal to place the switching element under tension; and an actuator mounted for displacement on the housing for moving the switching element between the switching positions, said actuator being in force-transmitting engagement with the blade portion to move the blade portion and, in turn, to progressively break the surface engagement between the generally planar spring portion and the other terminal surface of the inner end of the common terminal.
 2. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade portion is integrally connected to the pivot portion by outer strips.
 3. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade portion has an aperture, and wherein said opposite end of the leaf spring is received under tension in the aperture.
 4. The switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said opposite end of the leaf spring is bent and partially overlies the blade portion.
 5. The switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other terminal surface of the inner end of the common terminal with which the spring portion intermediate the ends of the spring is in surface engagement is a plane surface which is inclined relative to a mean position assumed by the resilient blade portion when the mobile contact is equally distant from the stationary contacts. 